Case signaling mechanism for keyboard controlled telegraph apparatus



pk 218, 1934. R. GRHFFBTH lagmvgw,

CASE SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR KEYBOARD CONTROLLED TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22. 1933 INVENTOR RONALD G. @RBFFITH V ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 18, 1934 CASE SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR KEY- BOARD CGNTROLLED TELEGRAPHIAPPIL.

RATUS Ronald George Griffith, Croydon, England, assignor to Creed and Company, Limited, Croydon, England Application August 22, 1933 Serial No. 686,217 In Great Britain September 2, 1932 10 Claims. (01'. 178-17) This invention relates to a keyboard controlled telegraph apparatus in which a plurality of key- I levers are adapted to effect corresponding operations, such as the transmission of signals direct to a line circuit, or the perforation of a tape for the subsequent control of the transmission of such signals.

It is usualin printing telegraph systems to provide for case grouping of characters in .two groups, such as letters and figures, the changeovcr being effectedin response to corresponding case-shift and re-shift signal operations respectively. A main object of the invention is to render the operationof keyboard controlled ap paratus for such systems as nearly aspossible identical with that of a typewriter.

According to the invention, therefore, a case signaling mechanism for keyboard controlled telegraph apparatus is provided in which a case shift signaling operation is effected on depression of a case shift keylever and a reshift signaling operation is effected on release of the case shift keylever.

In a developed form, according to the above aspect of the invention, therefore, a series of permutation members are set in accordance with one signal combination on actuation of a case shift'keylever andin accordance with another signal combination on release of the said keylever.

In the actual example of the invention hereinafter described a novel means of setting the series ofpermutation members from the keylevers is shown. This aspect of the invention comprises a keyboard mechanism for telegraph apparatus in which the setting of the series of permutation members is effected by. the movement of a keylever, the setting of the permutationmembers being free to be altered'in the two extreme positions of the keyleven.

.For efiecting the setting of the twoopposite case signals on depression and release respectively of a shift keylever, the invention further comprises a series of permutation members, which are set in accordance with the elements of a case shift signal by the movement of a case shift keylever ondepression, the setting of the permutation membersbeing free to be altered in the extreme depressed and released positions of the keylever and'the series of permutation members being set in accordance with the elementsof a case re-shift signal by the movement of said keylever on release thereof.

The invention will be more fully understood from the followingexample of a specific construction embodying the various features of the invention, as described in conjunction with the single figureofthe accompanying drawing.

A seriesof permutation members, .the ends 1 to. 5, only of which are shown, extend transverse 1y acrossa keyboard composed of a plurality of 'keylevers of which only the shift key 6 and locking key .7.:.are,shown.. Each permutation member in the. series 1 to 5. is slidably mounted .andis longitudinally moved into one or another .of two positionsby thedepression of any signal keyleventhe fivezbars controlling the signaling operations fora corresponding series of ele--' ments in a signal combination representing the key depressed. The signal keylevers co-operate directly with the permutation members 1 to 5, which in this case may be by means ofcam facednotches inclined in one direction or -the other on the permutation members in well known manner, but the shiftqkey .6 and locking key 7 are positioned higher over the permutation membersso that, they do not co-operate drectly therewith on depression in the same way as the signal keylevers.

Arranged adjacent to, and substantially parallel with the shift key 6 are two setting memthat on depression of setting member 8, the

series of permutation members are relatively set in accordance with the elements of a case shift signal and on, the alternativev elevation of set- .ting member 9 .the same series of permutation -members are selectively set in accordance with the elements of a case re-shift signal. The setting members 8and 9 are actuated from the shift key fi by a..T- shaped latch member 12, pivoted at 13 on anextension of the shift key 6, a tooth 14, 15 on each of the oppositely extending vertical arms of the latch member 12 being engageable with a corresponding tooth 16, v1'7 on the extremityof eachsetting member'8, 9 respectively. The. T-sh'aped latch member, 12 is rocked alter- -nately on its pivot .13 by a horizontal extension 18 of .the latch member'abutting one or'another of stationary pins 19, .20 near the extreme upper and lower'positions respectively of the shift key 6: a compressionspring member 21 acting between a projecting lug22 on the extensionof the 1 shift key6 and. the extremity. of the lower arm of the latch member 12 conveniently serving to maintain the latch member firmly in one position or the other on its pivot 13 until actuated to the opposite position. A tension spring 23 attached to the free extremity ofeach of the setting members 8 and 9 respectively tends to maintain these members in a normal position out of engagement with the series of permutation members 1 to 5, the usual spring means also being provided to raise the shift key to its normal position when not actuated orslocked in its actuated position.

It will be seen that with the shift key in its raised or usual position, each of the series of permutation members is free to be actuated or set in either of its two positions on depression of a signal keylever in the keyboard. On depression of the shift key 6 the tooth 14 on the upper arm of the latch member 12 engages tooth 16 on setting member 8 and moves the latter member against the inclined cam faces of the notches in the series of permutation members to set the case shift signal. Near the extreme depressed position-of the shift key 6 the horizontal arm 18 of thelatch member 12 engages the lower stationary pin 20, when the further movement of the shift key causes the latch member to rock on the pivot 13 and move over to its opposite position, tooth 14 thereby being disengaged from tooth 16 of setting member 8 and tooth 15 at the same time being moved to a position to engage tooth 1'? on the other setting'member 9. The series of permutation members 1 to .5 retain the setting thus imparted until actuated into a new setting and effect the control of the signaling operations for the corresponding elements of thesignal in any desired manner. although the shift key 6 may be maintained in the depressed position, the setting member 8 has been released in this extreme position and the permutation members are free to be moved in accordance with a fresh signal combination, by the depression of a signal keylever in the keyboard, for example. On the subsequent release of the shift key 6 the lower tooth 15 of the latch member, which has already been moved to the position to engage tooth 17 on the lower setting member 9, carries this setting member into engagement with the inclined cam faced notches on the lower edges of the permutation members and thus sets these latter members in accordance with the elements of the re-shift signal. When the shift key has nearly reached its normal raised position the horizontal extension 18 of the latch member engages upper pin 19, and thus causes the latch member to snap over again to its opposite position and release the setting member 9, when the permutation members are again free to be moved in accordance with further signal combination.

In order to hold the shift key 6 in the depressed position the locking key 7, is provided, the operation for locking and releasing being similar to that of a standard typewriter. Normally the shift key 6 will remain depressed as long as it is held down by the finger piece. If however, the locking key '7 is depressed, either to actuate the shift key or following the actuation of this latter key, a pin 24 on the locking key 7 permits a notch in a U-shaped spring actuated member 25 to engage the pin 24 and hold the locking and shift keys in the depressed position. To release the shift key it is normally depressed still further when a pin 26 thereon engages an inclined cam face 27 on the spring It will be noted that actuating member 25 and actuates this member against its spring tension to release the pin 24 on looking key '7, which is thereupon returned by its spring to the normal position when pin 24 prevents member 25 engaging pin 26 on the shift key 6, which is also returned to its normal position;

What is claimed is:

1. In a case signaling mechanism for keyboard controlled telegraph apparatus, a series of longitudinally slidable parallel permutation bars, a case shift keylever and means for setting said permutation bars in accordance with different signal combinations upon the depression and release of'said keylever.

2. In a keyboard mechanism for telegraph apparatus, a series of permutation members, a plurality of character keylevers, means for setting said permutation members in accordance with signal combinations on depression of said character keylevers, a case shift key-lever, means for setting said permutation members in accordance with a signal combination on the depression of said key-lever, and means for setting said permutation members in accordance with another signal combination on the release of said keylever.

3. In a keyboard mechanism for telegraph apparatus, a series of permutation members, inclined cam faces on said members, a key, a transverse member adapted upon depression of said key to be moved against said cams toset said permutation members in accordance with a signal combination, and means rendered operative n near the extreme depressed position of said key 7 for restoring said transverse member to its normal position.

4. In a keyboard mechanism for telegraph apparatus, a series of permutation members, a keylever, and a pair of transverse members adapted to set said permutation members in accordance with different signal combinations upon the depression and release of said key-lever.

5. In a keyboard mechanism for telegraph apmembers are then free to beset to other signal combinations.

6. In a keyboard mechanism for telegraph apparatus a series of parallel permutation members, inclined cam faces formed on the upper and lower edges of said permutation members, a pair of actuating members disposed one above and one below said permutation members and adapted to engage respectively with the cam faces on the upper and lower edges of said permutation members for setting the latter according to one or the other of two signal combinations, a key-lever,

and means actuated on the depression and release of said key-lever for causing one or the other of said actuating members to engage the upper or lower cam faces on said permutation members. .7

'7. In a keyboard mechanism for telegraph apparatus, a series of permutation members, 'a setting member adapted to cooperate therewith, a

key-lever, a pivoted detenticarried by key-lever and adapted to engage said setting member during the depression of said key-lever whereby said setting member is caused to set said permutation members in accordance with a signal combination, and means for releasing said detent from engagement with said setting member near the extreme depressed position of said key-lever.

8. In a keyboard mechanism for telegraph apparatus, a series of permutation members, a setting member adapted to cooperate therewith, a key-lever, a pivoted detent carried by said keylever and adapted to engage said setting member during the release of said key-lever whereby said setting member is caused to set said permutation members in accordance with a signal combination and means for releasing said detent from engagement with said setting member near the restored position of said key-lever.

9. In a keyboard mechanism for telegraph apparatus, a series of permutation members, a pair of setting members pivoted at one end and adapted to cooperate therewith, akeylever, a pivoted latch member carried by said key-lever and provided with two detents and stop means for causing said detents to engage respectively with the free ends of said setting members in the two extreme positions of said key-lever.

10. In a keyboard mechanism for telegraph apparatus, a, series of permutation members, a pair of setting members pivoted at one end and adapted to cooperate therewith, a key-lever, a pivoted latch member carried by said key-lever and provided with two detents adapted respectively to engage the free ends of said setting members, and stop means adapted to move said latch member in the two extreme positions of said key-lever to bring about the disengagement of one detent from its setting member and the engagement of the other detent with the other setting member.

RONALD GEORGE GRIFFITH. 

